PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:           24 October 2000                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000042957

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mrs. Joyce A. Hall		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Margaret K. Patterson		Chairperson	
	Mr. Edwin S. Castle		Member	
	Mr. John T. Meixell		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests that he be awarded the Combat Medical Badge
(CMB).

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that he was a combat medic assigned to an artillery unit that came under enemy fire and he treated wounded soldiers.
He provides no supporting evidence.

4.  The applicant's military records show that he was inducted in the Regular Army on 16 May 1966, for 2 years.  He completed basic combat training and advanced individual training (AIT) and was awarded military occupational specialty 91B (Medical Specialist).  

The applicant’s military record also shows that he received an Article 15, for 1 day of lost time in August 1966, while attending AIT; his commander rated his conduct and efficiency as “excellent”.  His DA Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows his conduct and efficiency ratings throughout his period of service as “excellent”.

5.  His military record also shows that he was assigned to Headquarters &
Headquarters, Company C, 1st Battalion, 35th Armor, located in Germany from October 1966 to March 1967, he served as an Ambulance Driver.  He was also assigned to Headquarters & Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 94th Artillery,
108th Artillery Group from May 1967 to April 1968 as a Battery Aidman.

6.  On 7 May 1968, the applicant was honorably discharged from the Army.  He completed 1 year, 11 months and 22 days of creditable active service.  His 
Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge (DD Form
214) shows that he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal,
Two Overseas Service Bars and the Sharpshooter Badge (M-14).  The applicant’s DA-Form 20 (Enlisted Qualification Record) shows that he was eligible to wear the V/Device (1960) with his Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.  His DD Form 214, does not show the V/Device (1960).

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Combat Medical Badge could be awarded to Medical Department personnel assigned or attached to infantry units of brigade or smaller size who satisfactorily perform medical duties while the unit is engaged in actual ground combat, provided they are personally present and under fire.  The award was established to recognize medical aidmen who shared the same hazards and hardships of ground combat on a daily basis with the infantry soldier.  So stringent was this requirement 

during the Vietnam era that recommending officials were required to document the place (in six-digit coordinates), time, type and intensity of fire to which the proposed recipient was exposed.  This fact naturally precludes the awarding of the badge to those medical personnel who accompany infantry units into a potential engagement area but do not come under enemy fire.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides, in pertinent part, for the award of the Good Conduct Medal for each 3 years of continuous enlisted active Federal Military service completed on or after 27 August 1940 and, for the first award only, upon termination of service on or after 27 June 1950 of less than 3 years but more than 1 year.  At the time, a soldier’s conduct and efficiency rating must have been rated as “excellent” for the entire period of qualifying service.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The records available to the Board indicated that the applicant met the regulatory requirements and was eligible to receive the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period of 16 May 1966 to 7 May 1968.  

2.  The records available to the Board also indicated that the applicant was eligible to wear the V/Device (1960) with the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

3.  Although the applicant held a MOS as a medical specialist the evidence of record shows that he was assigned to an artillery unit.  While it is possible he shared the hazards and hardships of the infantry troops by being present and under fire with them while they were engaged in actual ground combat it is more likely he served in the battalion aid station.  He provides no evidence to show he served in the field under fire.

4.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below. 

RECOMMENDATION:  

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by:

     a.  awarding the applicant the Army Good Conduct Medal for the period
16 May 1966 to 7 May 1968 and 

     b.  correcting the applicant’s DD Form 214, Item 24, to show the V/Device (1960) with the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

__mkp___  __eds___  __jtm___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

			Margaret K. Patterson
		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000042957	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20001024	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE		
DATE OF DISCHARGE		
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY		
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.0113	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.